Support Medicaid Expansion in Virginia

Expanding access to Medicaid in Virginia would give more than 400,000 uninsured Virginians peace of mind knowing that they can have both economic security and health care coverage.

If Virginia chooses not to implement Medicaid expansion, it will turn down tens of billions in federal funding and leave thousands of hard-working, low-income Virginians uncovered. Hospitals that treat large numbers of uninsured patients would lose access to funding offered through the expansion. Insured Virginians will continue to pay for uncompensated care in the form of higher charges for services and increased premiums. Expansion is supported by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce because it’s good for the economy; it is supported by Augusta Health and other hospitals because it will save them money.

Medicaid, like the private health insurance industry, is not perfect. But to ignore the good that it could bring to thousands of working families across Virginia warps reality and brings us no closer to solutions. If necessary to promote efficiency, a fraud investigative unit could be established, but expansion should be implemented without delay. Protections can be built into expansion in the unlikely event that federal funding is withheld.

We urge you to support expanding Medicaid, the right choice for Virginia.